CITROËN C4 Reviews

CITROËN C4 - VIVE LA DIFFERENCE

Will It Suit Me?
I warmed to CITROËN's original C4. Its shape was a refreshing change from the usual rather dull designs that populate the family hatchback sector. This second generation model doesn't look quite so radical but it's still very attractive, the 'tech' is even higher than before and quality seems to have come on in leaps and bounds.

Practicalities
Although bigger than the car it replaces, the latest C4 is no heavier, despite all the safety kit that's on board. The rather agreeable upshot is that interior space and stowage room are both more than class competitive. What I really like however, is the way that CITROËN has improved the build quality and finish and tried to build in features more often seen on luxury cars - laminated side window glass for example. Detail touches include being able to alter the backlighting behind the dashboard controls to suit your preferences. Plus sound alerts which can also be changed to your taste, in the same way that you can modify your mobile phone's ring-tone. One slight disappointment inside is the absence of the unusual fixed steering wheel boss, which on the MK1 C4, carried most of the car's key switches and was a really unusual touch. You turned the wheel and the switches stayed static. CITROËN says that it's ditched this in the interests of saving 3.5kgs in weight: I think it's more likely that buyers just couldn't get used to it. Whatever the truth, this second generation C4 does deliver a very smart cabin indeed. As for the styling, well it's not as dramatic - evolutionary rather than revolutionary - but it is growing on me. I particularly like the way the long styling lines on the side flow into a neat clamshell bonnet highlighted by the familiar double-Chevron badge. The chrome highlights and revamped headlights still manage to mark the car out from the crowd.